Virtual MIMO Technologies for High Data Rates in Wireless Communication (MIME)

The potential of Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) technology to drastically improve the spectral efficiency of wireless communication systems is well understood. MIMO is a part of or has been proposed for several standards, and is expected to play a large part in the communication systems of the future.

Virtual Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (V-MIMO) technology is capable of addressing the spatial correlation and complexity issues inherent in MIMO systems by distributing the antennas used for communication among a cluster of UEs in the neighborhood. A V-MIMO enabled device would be capable of providing higher capacity gains than practically achievable on spatially constrained MIMO enabled devices.

The V-MIMO concept has been known for some time in the literature, but we are not aware of its being part of any standard. Neither do we know of any existing system which implements V-MIMO technology. We note that the variant of collaborative MIMO that is included in the WiMAX standard, and has been proposed for 3G LTE and EDGE evolution, is a significantly different one.

This project proposal is for the implementation of a V-MIMO enabled wireless communication system. It meets FP7 Challenge 1 objectives through providing more flexible and spectrally efficient access to mobile broadband services.

OVERVIEW

In V-MIMO communication, a user equipment (UE) uses the antennas of other UEs in the vicinity to carry out the communication with a multiple-antenna base station (BS).

V-MIMO technology makes it possible to consider the employment of more antennas for communication than it is practicable to employ on a single spatially constrained device. A V-MIMO enabled device, in addition to providing higher capacity, may require less hardware and fewer RF chains than a MIMO-enabled device with the same number of antennas.

 

OBJECTIVES

The objective of our project is to build a V-MIMO system around existing wireless communication standards.

The intended benefits are improved data rates and lower device complexity than comparable MIMO-enabled devices.

Suitable candidates for the underlying standards would have to be investigated. The candidate standards could include WiMAX, Zigbee and 3G LTE, and WLAN and WPAN for the inter-UE communication.

The project would include the investigation of the following issues.

1. Potential gain. How much gain in throughput can be expected through the use of V-MIMO technology in real environments, and for different scenarios? This will need to be evaluated through realistic simulations and/or theoretical analysis, for different numbers of antennas.

2. Changes to the standard. Will it be possible for a V-MIMO system to be built around a standard, without any changes to the standard as existing, the intent being improved cell-edge and average data rates? If changes are required, how significant will they be?

3. Independence of standards. Is it feasible to build a V-MIMO package that can easily be ported onto any standard?

4. Inter-UE link. Will it be necessary to completely develop the PHY and MAC for the inter-UE communication, or can an existing standard be used for the purpose? Is it possible to make do without an additional RF for the inter-UE communication? Can features already present on a multi-mode device be used for these purposes?

5. Security. V-MIMO would entail the sharing of data with a neighbor. What security mechanisms should be in place to generate trust in such a paradigm? What would be the impact of this security on the resources of the sender?

6. Business Model. Why would a person agree to facilitate the transfer of a neighbor’s data? Obviously, some compensation schemes need to be thought of.

The project would include the development of the following modules:

- PHY, MAC and RF for inter-UE communication

- Security mechanisms for sharing of data between UEs

- Business models for sharing / hiring of UE resources

 

END RESULTS

The end result of the project could be one or all of the following:

1. A prototype of a V-MIMO package that a user can use for obtaining higher data rates in an existing wireless communication system.

2. Prototypes that prove the gain in spectral efficiency that V-MIMO brings, and proposals at standardization forums for the introduction of V-MIMO technology into standards.

MIMO
Multiple input multiple output
Virtual
Wireless communication
Mobile communication
Spectral efficiency
Capacity
High data rate
WiMAX
802.16
802.16e
Zigbee
802.15.4
3G
LTE
Long Term Evolution
WLAN
WPAN
PHY
MAC
RF

Experts in wireless communications

Experts in WiMAX

Experts in Zigbee

Contributors to 3G LTE

Experts in WLAN / WPAN

Experts in chip design

Experts in RF design

Wireless communications, WiMAX, Zigbee, 3GLTE, WLAN, WPAN

- Carry out simulations to evaluate the potential of V-MIMO.
- Investigate the potential of the standard to support V-MIMO.
- Identify enhancements to the standard required for the support of V-MIMO.
- Develop the PHY for inter-UE communication.
- Develop the MAC for inter-UE communication.
- Investigate and implement security mechanisms for inter-UE communication.

 

Chip design

- Design the hardware for inter-UE communication.

 

RF design

- Design the RF for inter-UE communication.

 

Market analysts

- Develop business models for V-MIMO communication.

Wireless communication labs

Centres of excellence in wireless communications

Market analysts

Yes